Washington Post Now Claims "Authorized" to Access MD4BUSH Account

Saturday, November 5, 2005 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

After yesterday's press conference in front of The Washington Post building in downtown Washington, D.C. that criticized The Post for violating their sourcing guidelines and for accessing a FreeRepublic.com account in possible violation of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, an editor for The Post is now claiming authorization to log-in to the account of MD4BUSH.

Earlier this week, Post Maryland editor R.B. Brenner made statements that reporter Matthew Mosk had logged in to MD4BUSH's account "two or three times" after being given the password by an "intermediary" in order to authenticate private messages sent between MD4BUSH and NCPAC on Free Republic.

Brenner has maintained that The Post does not know who MD4BUSH is.

Brenner is reported to have made the following statement to The Post for their story today about the press conference:

"As part of our reporting, we needed to verify that the chat room postings were authentic. We were authorized to view them, and it was appropriate to do so under the circumstances."

Link to Post article here.

[shutup_you_idiot]

I'd love nothing more, but in reality it's going nowhere, and we all know it.

Sure it is. Or at least the Post thinks it could if Jim wants to pursue it.

Knowing that just makes me tingly all over. And you?

[Anti-Bubba182]

Unlawful Access to Stored Communications 18 U.S.C. 2701.

"§ 2701. Unlawful Access to Stored Communications

(a) Offense.--Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section whoever–

(1) intentionally accesses without authorization a facility through which an electronic communication service is provided; or

(2) intentionally exceeds an authorization to access that facility; and thereby obtains, alters, or prevents authorized access to a wire or electronic communication while it is in electronic storage in such system shall be punished as provided in subsection (b) of this section. "

Registration and User Agreement

"User Account Confidentiality: User agrees to protect user's account and password and not to disclose account information to any third party."

The WP did exceed an authorization to access FR by using anothers password(Forbidden under the Users Agreement which govern the access of users) to access FRmails and did not make any attempt to determine the rules of access to FR or presumably they would not have improperly used anothers password. They flat did violate section 2b of 18 U.S.C. 2701 in that they did not view, or observe the rules if they did view them. If the reporter was unaware of 2b of 18 U.S.C. 2701 it won't help. A professional at a large newspaper should know or should have asked.

[infidel29]

I didn't notice did anyone ask JimRob or any Mods about these claims?

[SteveMcKing]

I am sure they are reading this at the Post, but maybe we should email it right to them? They might gain tips on how to run a newspaper.

[SaltyJoe]

"Wouldn't it be sweet if JimRob cashed a check from WaPo for megamillions."

Would this be in time for the next freepathon?

[Anti-Bubba182]

He should jump in as the party most damaged. Also, he might go to a Federal Prosecutor.

Possible Law that applies.

[muawiyah]

I would imagine everybody over at the WarshTimes is simply preoccupied with ROTFLTAO.

[rvoitier]

You two are saying contradictory things on a single point:
Did WaPo deny or confirm they know who MD4Bush is?

Thanks.

[shutup_you_idiot]

I am sure they are reading this at the Post, but maybe we should email it right to them? They might gain tips on how to run a newspaper.

lol. Everyone wave and say "hi" to the ComPost people.

[cpdiii]

Congressman Billy Bob

What do you think are the legal liabilities and financial liabilities that the Washington Post could face if it turns out that MD4Bush is a Washington Post staffer or a Post staffer worked in collusion with whomever MD4Bush is?

[tgslTakoma]

Yes.

And also, no.

[muawiyah]

When they were tossing over a hundred million bucks down the rathole building their website the WarshPost undoubtedly encountered some contractors with the requisite skills to provide them with the means of unlocking every email system in the world.

Unless the WarshPost starts coming clean on this, some folks over there are going to end up going to jail for a very, very, very long time!

[Judith Anne]

Agreed.

[stocksthatgoup]

The intermediary better be a lawyer or else the truth will be subpeonaed and brought to light.

[SeaBiscuit]

Excellent, thanks for your time.

[SmoothTalker]

It already is. Why am I not surprised that the MSM is manufacturing negative stories against republicans?

[decal]

"Also, he might go to a Federal Prosecutor."

Well, it's not as though Mr Fitzgerald has anything important to do - maybe he could be persuaded to look into this.

[tubebender]

Has MD4BUSH been banned? I see his posts are still up when I check his profile but no profile. How did they access his FReep mail if he has been banned?

[Doctor Raoul]

What did the Washington Post know, and when did they know it?

[conservative in nyc]

MD4Bush Ping!